Linebackers can often make the roster if they’re not a starter with their play on special teams. Here’s a look at defensive snap counts and special teams snap counts for Buffalo’s linebackers through the first two preseason games.

Perhaps the most interesting figures belong to that of Chris White, who stands fourth in snaps on defense and first in snaps on special teams. If there is a candidate that fits the mold of a LB that could make because of his special teams play it’s him. He’s one of the five players we profiled in our Five Players to Watch this afternoon. Arthur Moats is another.

There were a host of injured Bills that either missed last week’s game or were injured this past Sunday. Fortunately a bunch of them are well enough to practice here on Wednesday. Head coach Chan Gailey ran down the list of guys that will be able to get back on the field today.

Gailey began with Dorin Dickerson, who was carted off the field last weekend, but will practice.

“Looks like he’s going to be able to go and practice today. So it looks like he’ll be okay,” said Gailey. “(Marcus) Easley is going to go. He’s going to try to do some things in practice. Chris White is going to try to do some things in practice today. I don’t think any of them will be what we term practice, but limited practice.”

When asked about Mark Anderson’s season long knee rehab, Gailey said Anderson would practice, but they still don’t have a clear picture for him on Sunday.

“We’ll see what he’s got,” Gailey said. “We’ve almost kind of hit a wall with him coming back, but he’s going to try to go and he wants to. It’s not from lack of want to, it’s not coming as fast as we had hoped at this point. It went very fast for a while and it’s kind of hit a wall.”

DE Mark Anderson was active for last week’s game, but didn’t play as he was an emergency fill-in only if necessary. This week he won’t even be active.

Head coach Chan Gailey declared Anderson out for Sunday’s game in Miami.

“Mark Anderson tried to do some things, but couldn’t. He just couldn’t keep progressing so he’s going to be out for the game,” said Gailey.

Anderson was limited in practice all week as he never got around to practicing fully at any point. He has not played coming off a pair of knee procedures since Week 5. Gailey said he is not ready now to assess whether he has a chance to play in the season finale against the Jets next week.

Special teams LB Chris White is also out for Sunday’s game. White is dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him from practicing all week.

Bills DE Mark Anderson was dressed for last week’s game, but was only going to see playing time in an emergency. That emergency never arose. So what about this week?

Head coach Chan Gailey indicated that he may very well play on Sunday in Miami, but there are some decisions to be made in terms of numbers on special teams that could impact whether Anderson is active or inactive this weekend.

“He has a better chance,” said Gailey of Anderson. “I don’t know how much progress he’s making. I’ve got to talk to the defensive coaches after we watch the (practice) film, and get their input as to where we think he is because that’s a decision you have to make a lot of times is Mark Anderson might not play or he might, versus Chris White who can go play on some special teams and probably would if he’s ready. So who’s up and who’s down? Those are the decisions you have to make.”

Chris White has missed the last two days of practice with a hamstring injury, but Gailey said White is likely to be a game time decision even if he doesn’t practice tomorrow.

Eric Wood, Mark Anderson and LB Chris White are not participating. White has not been on the injury report all season. We’ll find out if his absence today is injury related when we talk to head coach Chan Gailey following practice.

Hard to believe we’re 26 days away from the NFL draft! Get up to speed on the top 5 prospects at each position with our video position previews in the media center at Buffalobills.com where you hear from almost every one of the prospects profiled. Let’s get to your questions.

1 - Chris,
I like Nix’s stance on picking value over need, but since OLB is a definite need, if Terrell Manning from NC State is still available in the 3rd, do you think he’s what the Bills are looking for? He seems like a pretty quick, tough, instinctive player. Also, is there any chance TE Coby Fleener is going to be available for us in the 2nd round, & if so, would the Bills go for him? I know they’re high on Chandler, who had a good year, but you can’t deny Fleener’s ability/athleticism. Last, is there any chance the Bills trade out of the #10 pick? I just can’t see them taking a (right) tackle with Pears playing as well as he did & DE/OLB seems like a reach. Unless some fluke-ishness, a-la last year w/ the Locker-Gabbert-Ponder run, happens in those 1st 9 picks & CB Claiborne is still available, I don’t see anyone being worth what we’d have to pay a #10 pick. I’d rather trade the pick altogether for a proven vet, Mike Wallace anyone? Thanks for all your work keeping us displaced Bills fans in the loop.

Mauricio Grossi
Chicago, Il

CB: A lot of questions here. First, Terrell Manning to me is a boom or bust player. Most believe he should’ve returned to N.C. State for the 2012 season and I’m one to agree. He just doesn’t make enough plays. He’ll flash here and there, but he doesn’t have great football instincts. Manning overruns a lot of plays in my opinion. He has pass rush ability, but I think the better overall player is his teammate Audie Cole. After Cole ran in the 4.6s at his pro day I felt better about him being a LB target in the 3rd or 4th round. He played mostly SLB, but was moved to MLB this past season for the Wolfpack.

He’s a smart, instinctive player with good physical ability. At 6’4” 246, he’s got prototype size for the strong side LB spot and would be a great young prospect to line up behind veteran Kirk Morrison. I met him at the Combine and liked what I heard. The dude’s hand swallowed mine (10 inch hands). I think he also could serve as a backup MLB.

Stanford’s Coby Fleener is now being talked about as a late first-round pick after his monster pro day last week. I don’t know that he’ll go that high, so you’re right about him probably being there for Buffalo in round two. I just don’t see tight end being a priority. Chandler I believe still has some potential to reach. Last year was his first year as a full-time starter. I think he can do even more this year.

As for trading out of the 10th overall pick. I think it is very realistic. If Buffalo doesn’t like what is on the board at offensive tackle in terms of the value matching up at pick 10, and they don’t believe WR Michael Floyd is right for the 10th pick either, I could see them making an effort to move back five to 10 spots and picking up an extra choice. Of course they need to find a trade partner to do that.

Your dream of getting Mike Wallace by the way are remote at best. All signs point to him being re-signed by Pittsburgh.

2 - Hey Chris,

I really appreciate all the work you do in keeping us informed on the Bills. My question is about Memphis DT Dontari Poe. Heard he blew people away at the combine with his athleticism for his size of 6-4 and 346 pounds. I know we have Williams are Dareus in the middle, but Poe reminds a lot of people of another guy the Bills passed on Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata. Curious if you think the Bills would give any consideration to drafting this guy or would they rather address a bigger need?

Thank you,
Jeremy from San AntonioCB: While Poe is an intriguing prospect and should be no worse than a mid-first round pick, I don’t see Buffalo going the DT route. The Bills have a lot of depth on the interior with Torell Troup on the road to recovery from back surgery, Kellen Heard and now Dwan Edwards as a likely DT in the new 4-3 scheme.

Buffalo’s positional demands at OT, WR, LB and CB trump DT.

And while I like Poe as a prospect, he’s not Haloti Ngata.

3 - Dear Chris,

Is it plausible the Bills would consider using one of their 4th round picks on Kellen Moore? I think he has potential be a great backup for Fitz. His accuracy would fit well into our offensive scheme. Many are casting doubts on his ability to perform at the next level, but it seems Buffalo has built a 1st class culture through acquiring players with a chip on their shoulder!

Thanks for keeping us in the loop with your great coverage.

Larry D
Fort Collins, CO

CB: Being a guy of small stature myself I always root for the guys that aren’t blessed with the physical gifts that the elite prospects possess. But it’s even hard for me to look past Moore’s physical limitations. Being under six-feet tall wouldn’t be as much of an issue if he was on the higher end of the athleticism meter. Unfortunately he’s not. He lacks agility and escapability and that hurts him at the NFL level because at his height he’s going to need to move around a lot to find throwing lanes to throw through, much like Doug Flutie did. Moore can’t move like Flutie.

He’s super intelligent and anticipates throws really, really well. He puts good touch on the ball as well, but driving the ball downfield isn’t something he’s going to do. I suppose he could survive as a backup WCO QB, but I believe he’ll be a successful offensive coordinator in this league before he’s a successful quarterback. A sixth or seventh-round pick at best.

4 - Chris,

Love the offseason coverage. Can’t wait until draft day! Can you breakdown who is in the mix to fill the rush/SAM LB in the new defense? Who are the best 43 LB in the draft that could fill the void? Hightower (Alabama) Lewis (Oklahoma). Where do players like Chris White and Robert Eddins (who looked great in preseason ) fit into the new LB scheme. The team needs depth at LB at all 3 positions.

Thanks
Josh

CB: As it stands now Morrison would be the starting SLB going into camp with Moats backing him up over there and last year’s sixth-round pick Chris White in that mix too. On the weak side it’s Nick Barnett and Robert Eddins, who is under contract and is a rush LB. I anticipate Shawne Merriman to be a pass rushing end on the open side (right side) so he’s out of the mix. I believe Bryan Scott could be part of competition as well knowing he played a hybrid LB role in the team’s nickel package last year.

As for draft prospects that fit the 4-3, Hightower to me is an ILB and probably a second-round prospect. Lewis is an interesting player because he’s got a lot of physical talent, but since the Oklahoma coaches never found a spot for him it’s hard to know what he is exactly. He also had some academic issues and it was recommended to him that he turn pro. Also said to have some maturity issues so he doesn’t sound like Bills draft material. North Carolina’s Zach Brown (WLB), Boise State’s Shea McClellin (SLB), Utah State’s Bobby Wagner and N.C. State’s Audie Cole (SLB) are all guys I feel better about.

5 - I’m puzzled about the status of Alex Carrington. He played as a 4-3 defensive end in college and in the 3-4 this year they played him at linebacker, even though he is around 300 lbs. He must have quickness to play linebacker and I heard he increased his strength dramatically coming into last season. Therefore, why isn’t he mentioned as a candidate to be one of the starting defensive ends in the 4-3? Thanks for being willing to answer our questions.

Tom O.

CB: The reason why you don’t see him being mentioned as a DE in Buffalo’s new 4-3 defense is because he’s likely to be a defensive tackle. Carrington added lean muscle to his frame last year and came into camp at 305 pounds. He was miscast as an OLB, but he along with Spencer Johnson were the best answers they had in terms of setting the edge in the run front with Merriman out of the lineup. Now in the 4-3 Carrington is likely to be a wave player on the interior. I believe he’s capable of playing a LDE role in a 4-3, but there he would be a backup to Mario Williams.

The Bills are going to have some tough decisions to make on the defensive line this summer where they currently have 16 players.

Bills defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt provided some details as to where some of his players will fit into his new 4-3 scheme. Kelvin Sheppard will be his MLB and Nick Barnett is going to be on the weak side. So who are the candidates for the strong side. One of them appears to be Arthur Moats.

At 6’0″ 252 pounds, one might think he could serve as a backup to Sheppard in the middle, but that’s not where Moats expects to line up initially come May OTAs.

“We briefly talked and mainly he told me what position I’d be looking towards. It’ll be more on the outside,” said Moats. “When I talked to him it was more in the direction of strong side linebacker. It’s pretty similar to what we were doing (last year) just out of a different alignment. Overall it’s a new experience for me and I’ll be taking it on head first.”

Moats will likely be one of a few candidates for that starting SLB role in Wannstedt’s defense. GM Buddy Nix mentioned the need to add another linebacker either in free agency or the draft. Where Chris White will line up is still a mystery at this point, and Kirk Morrison is a free agent.

Moats, who was participating in a Play 60 community event in Buffalo Thursday said they also talked about what he was doing last year in training camp lining up at inside linebacker and how those things played out. Moats flip-flopped back and forth throughout the season last year between inside and outside linebacker. He anticipates with the system being new that they’ll leave him on the strong side.

“I just look at it as a new challenge and it’s inspiring that they would consider me for the job,” he said. “They feel I’m athletic enough and smart enough to handle it.”

How the Bills will fill the two roster spots is going to be debated by the coaching staff and personnel department with a move or two likely on Tuesday. Gailey did indicate that with a couple of offensive linemen set to return an additional offensive lineman is unlikely.

“We’re getting ready to meet and talk about that. We’ve got a couple of different ways we can go,” said Gailey. “If we get Demetrius (Bell)back it probably doesn’t (necessitate a move). I think we’ll be okay if we get Demetrius back because we’ve got three guards that we can go play with. I think we’ll be okay if we get Demetrius back. If he comes back this week and it becomes a bigger problem than we thought, which we don’t anticipate, then maybe we have to (make a move).”

White’s spot could be filled with another linebacker, but one is currently not on Buffalo’s practice squad.

Eric Wood was just one of two Bills players that fell victim to a torn ACL for the Bills on Sunday.

The other Bills player was rookie LB Chris White, who sustained the same injury while covering a punt in the third quarter. He had to be carted from the field. Chan Gailey said White will obviously have surgery just like Wood.

Bills rookie LB Chris White is still nursing an ankle injury. He tried to do a little work in practice Wednesday, but was extremely limited with what he could do. As a result he’s not going to be suiting up for Saturday’s game.

“What we had him do was just come out and go through some bags and do some preliminary work,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “Then we’ll up it tomorrow and then we’ll up in the next day. He’s still out for this game but we’re hoping to get him back maybe for Detroit.”

Buffalo closes out their preseason on Thurs. Sept. 1st against the Lions.

His opportunity has surfaced due to injury, but you can bet that undrafted rookie ILB Brad Jefferson is more concerned about the opportunity he’ll have tonight than why it came up in the first place.

With third-round pick Kelvin Sheppard and sixth-round pick Chris White both out for tonight’s preseason game against the Broncos, there is a hole at the ‘mike’ LB position with the second defensive unit. Sheppard played there briefly before a hamstring injury cost him most of camp. White was manning the position in the absence of Sheppard and was faring well until an ankle injury against the Bears cost him this past week of practice and will keep him out of tonight’s game.

So Jefferson, an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Tech, will move up from the third unit to play alongside Arthur Moats at ILB with the second string defense. By the time the game is over Jefferson could log up to 40 plays, which gives him a huge chance to put his best on game tape.

Rookie LB Chris White, who was injured in the preseason opener, was not even on the practice field watching for the second straight day. Head coach Chan Gailey said he’ll be on the shelf for the foreseeable future.

“He’s a couple of weeks, three weeks away,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “He got rolled up on pretty good so he’s going to be out a while.”

Bills LB Kelvin Sheppard, who returned from a left hamstring injury late this week to practice a couple of times, will not be playing tonight in Buffalo’s preseason opener at Chicago. He did not make the trip with the team.

The move is a precautionary one by the Bills coaching staff in conjunction with the medical staff. Fellow draft classmate, Chris White will line up at ILB with the second unit on defense alongside Arthur Moats.

Sheppard seemed to anticipate that not playing in the preseason opener was a possibility earlier this week.

“You know it is what it is,” Sheppard told Buffalobills.com. “I hate missing anything. It’s been eating me up on the inside to miss practice. So if I don’t (play against Chicago) I’m not going to let it eat me up too much. I’m just going to make sure I’m ready to go to Denver the next week.”

Whenever I put together my Five Players to Watch for preseason games it seems I’ve always got a player or two that wind up getting squeezed out. I thought this would be a good place to put them so they’re not overlooked. So here’s my player that didn’t quite fit on the top 5 players to watch, but fans should keep an eye on.

6 – LB Chris White – Buffalo’s sixth-round pick has quietly turned in impressive practice after impressive practice. He just lines up and plays football. With third-round pick Kelvin Sheppard on the shelf for most of camp with a hamstring injury, White has stepped in with the second unit at inside linebacker and fared well next to Arthur Moats. A smart, instinctive player White is deserving of a watchful eye.

Bills LB Arthur Moats is manning an inside linebacker position in this camp, which is nothing new. He did the same thing last year as a rookie before going outside for most of the season. Now his move inside could be more permanent.

With Kelvin Sheppard out of the lineup (pulled muscle) fellow rookie Chris White has been manning the ‘mike’ linebacker position next to Moats in the second team defense on the inside. With White so new to the system, Moats is the one making the calls in the huddle.

“I’m in there with the young guy (White) when I’m with the twos I make most of the calls because I’m familiar with the system,” said Moats. “Technically the ‘mike’ is supposed to be making the calls, but as long as we get the job done that’s all that matters.”

Both White and Sheppard are known as quick studies and should pick things up rather quickly, but the coaches have been brisk with installation and the rookies might find the pace and the volume of material a bit daunting.